Patents Assigned to Kohler Co.
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Publication number: 20240151322Abstract: A process includes placing a collar around a valve cartridge, the valve cartridge comprising a valve stem. The process also includes aligning the valve stem with an engagement crown of a handle such that an opening of the handle is located over the collar. The process also includes press fitting the valve stem into the engagement crown while pressing the handle towards the collar and such that the valve stem is rotatably coupled to the handle through the engagement crown. The process also includes rotating the handle relative to the collar to rotate the valve stem after press fitting the valve stem into the engagement crown.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2024Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: Brian J. Mooren, Andrew J. Rieth
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Publication number: 20240151015Abstract: A showerhead assembly includes a handshower and a docking mechanism. The handshower includes a mounting puck mountably coupled to a rear portion of the handshower. The docking mechanism is configured to receive the handshower. The docking mechanism includes a cradle assembly positioned adjacent the handshower that is configured to receive the mounting puck. The cradle assembly includes a first portion, a second portion, and a first O-ring. The second portion is adjacent the first portion. The second portion includes a face extending along a rear of the first portion. The first O-ring is provided annularly about a perimeter of the first portion and the second portion to secure the first portion and the second portion relative to one another. Upon receiving the mounting puck, the mounting puck urges the first portion into an open position to receive the mounting puck within the cradle assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2023Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventor: Brian C. Wick
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Patent number: 11976449Abstract: A sensing faucet assembly includes a faucet body, an input water control unit, a control box, and a sensor. The faucet body includes a faucet water passage. The control box includes a first water passage and a second water passage. The input water control unit includes a water inlet, a first water outlet, and a second water outlet. The first water passage communicates with the faucet water passage and the first water outlet, and the control box is equipped with a solenoid valve. The second water passage communicates with the faucet water passage and the second water outlet, and the input water control unit is provided with a valve core for controlling the communication and the blocking of the second water outlet.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Jiagao Huang, Peng Zhang
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Patent number: 11974703Abstract: An apparatus for a portable toilet includes a film storage compartment and a plurality of transport wheels. The film storage compartment is configured to store a liner having a tubular shape. The plurality of transport wheels is configured to transport the liner through a serpentine space. At least one of the plurality of transport wheels includes a high friction area and a hollow area.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Michael Luettgen, Yogesh Pansare, Swapnil Borade
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Patent number: 11965322Abstract: A toilet includes an inlet structure, a bowl structure, and an outlet structure. The inlet structure is configured to receive water. The bowl structure has a toilet bowl including a rim and a sump, a split fluidly connected to the inlet structure and including a first passage and a second passage, a shelf located below the rim of the toilet bowl and fluidly connected to the first passage, a side channel fluidly connected to the second passage, and a diverter that redirects the water from the side channel to the sump of the toilet bowl. The outlet structure is fluidly connected to the sump and is configured to discharge water from the sump into a drain.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Tony L. Lambert, Daniel N. Halloran, Andrew L. Smith
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Publication number: 20240125101Abstract: A shower system includes a sprayer moveably coupled with a shower column and a control system operably coupled with the sprayer. The control system can automatically change a position of the sprayer along the shower column.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventor: Hiroyuki Chanseol Muraoka
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Patent number: 11958065Abstract: A water delivery device includes an inlet connector, a sprayface assembly, and a selection engine. The inlet connector is configured to couple the water delivery device to a water supply. The sprayface assembly includes a plurality of nozzles that are configured to produce a plurality of spray patterns. The selection engine fluidly couples the inlet connector to the sprayface assembly and controls flow to each one of the plurality of nozzles to determine the spray pattern produced at the sprayface assembly. The selection engine is configured to switch directly from any one of the plurality of spray patterns to any other one of the plurality of spray patterns in response to a single actuation of the selection engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Evan Yee, Brian S. Core
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Patent number: 11946577Abstract: A method of installing a plumbing fixture to an outlet of a water supply assembly located behind a wall includes providing a plumbing fixture including an attachment structure. The method also includes providing an adapter configured to couple the plumbing fixture to an outlet of a water supply assembly. The adapter includes an annular body, a plurality of collars, and an engagement structure. The annular body extends between a first end and a second end and defining a bore extending therethrough. The plurality of collars is provided along an exterior of the annular body and spaced inwardly from the first end such that each of the collars is separated from an adjacent one of the collars in a lateral direction by a recess. The engagement structure is provided along the exterior at the second end.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventor: Matthew J. Ball
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Patent number: 11949533Abstract: A voice controlled device comprises a housing, a dock, a coupling mechanism, and a microphone. The dock is configured to connect the housing to a plurality of host appliances. The coupling mechanism is configured to receive an identification value indicative of docking between the voice controlled device and a currently connected host appliance of the plurality of host appliances. The microphone is configured to receive one or more voice inputs for the currently connected host appliance. A command is provided based on the one or more voice inputs and the identification value.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Rafael Rexach, Jessica Schroeder, Miguel Arciniega, Ashley Springer, Shi Chao Zhang, Marwan Estiban, Anne Krauter, Perry Erickson, Anil Pendyala, Erin Geiger
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Patent number: 11933031Abstract: A tank assembly for a pressure-assist toilet includes a flush assembly having an outer chamber and an inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber. The flush assembly further includes a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber, and a pilot valve disposed in the inner chamber and extending through the flush valve. The tank assembly further includes an actuator engaging the pilot valve and configured to hold the pilot valve at each of a first height, a second height offset a first distance from the first height, and a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than a first distance.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Publication number: 20240082856Abstract: A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly includes a reservoir configured to receive water from a water source and one or more outlets for passing water from the reservoir. The shower assembly also includes a plurality of shower mounting features provided in a first non-adjustable spatial orientation on the shower assembly. The mounting system is configured to couple the shower assembly to a building structure and adjust a position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure. The mounting system includes a bracket configured to be coupled to the building structure at a fixed position. The mounting system also includes a plurality of bracket mounting features provided in a second non-adjustable spatial orientation on the bracket and configured to align each of the plurality of bracket mounting features with one of the shower mounting features for coupling thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11927588Abstract: An intelligent toilet that includes a toilet base having a bowl, a seat assembly comprising a seat, and a urine collection system integrated with the seat assembly, wherein the urine collection system includes an analyzer that is configured to test urine from a user and provide output health data of the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Luncheak Tan, Chinghua Chen
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Patent number: 11918113Abstract: A sink is provided. The sink includes a basin having a front wall. The sink includes a rim supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the front wall in a substantially horizontal orientation. The sink includes an apron extending from the rim. The apron extends vertically between a top wall and an opposing bottom wall and laterally between a first side wall and an opposing second side wall. The apron is coupled to the basin only at the top wall of the apron by the rim. The apron extends laterally outward past the rim such that a first rear edge of the first side wall and a second rear edge of the second side wall are spaced apart from the rim.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11920336Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Patent number: D1016986Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Tory L. Hayner, Gregory de Swarte, Drew Johnson
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Patent number: D1016990Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Niels J. Eilmus, Evan M. Grybush
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Patent number: D1017770Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventor: Drew Johnson
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Patent number: D1018074Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Alexander V. LeTourneau, Dongha Lee, Zhiyu Liu, Shawn J. Booth
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Patent number: D1020038Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Erin Leigh Hoover, Nicholas Robert Rindt, Dennis Lee Snyder, Seth M. Stevens, Maxwell Wasscher, Luke James Worth, Jovello Tijano Gomez, Jr.
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Patent number: D1024294Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventor: Erich D. Slothower